Walnut Street Prison as a Revolution for Prisoner Rehabilitation
Introduction
Located at Walnut Street behind Independence Hall, Walnut Street Prison was constructed in 1773. Initially built like other prisons of the day, it became a symbol for the reform movement emanating around the colonies that initiated after the Revolutionary War. The desire for prison reform was especially strong in Pennsylvania where Quaker beliefs began to alter the perception of prisoner treatment. Walnut Street became a symbol for this reform movement based off Quaker values that declared humans were innately good and given the right environment could reform themselves to be law-abiding citizens.
Prisons were initially setup only as holding cells. “Prison Reform in Pennsylvania” says how those in prisons were there to wait for their trial or punishment as well as for being debtors or a trial witness. The prisons were often organized into several large rooms with a variety of prisoner types confined to each room. A collection of “men and women, young and old, black and white” people all crowded together was not an unusual circumstance. The exception for this was the most heinous criminals who were often confined in separate locations. These systems often led to contamination of the prisoners grouped together; contamination could be anything from prisoner abuse of one another; teaching each other methods of crime; or woman fraternizing with men (Johnston). Contamination among prisoners accounted for part of the inability of inmates to reform while in jail.
In addition to inadequate prisoner arrangements, inmates’ enduring large amounts of physical pain was a regular problem. “Punishment and Reformation” talks about how pain was incorporated into the penal system. Eccentric tests of guilt or innocence where prisoners were flogged or mutilated were still present in the judicial system (71-77). Physical pain was also a practiced form of interrogation. These intimidation methods varied only slightly from the tests of innocence or guilt. The accused would be put through these torturous activities to solicit a confession or other information before a trial (Wines 88). Lastly, physical pain was used against those found guilty. Punishments in this era included branding, hangings, public humiliation, and banishment; flogging and mutilations were also acceptable forms of punishment for those convicted (Rafter).
Development of Walnut Street
Initial Setup
The overcrowding of previously setup prisons was the initial reason for the construction of Walnut Street Prison. “Prison Reform” discusses how its design was put together by the famous architect Robert Smith into the shape of a “U”. The prison was initially setup to accommodate a few dozen prisoners since older prisons in the area had become full. Its inside cell design matched the setup of older prisons where inmates were grouped together in large rooms (Johnston).
Reform Movement
The reform movement after the Revolutionary War saw to change how prisoners were treated. “Punishment and Reformation” discusses the reform movement. It initiated itself off a pre-Revolutionary group called Philadelphia Society for Relieving Distressed Prisoners which had been inspired by William Penn. Penn’s criminal code, heavily influenced by his Quaker beliefs, reduced capital crimes to only willful murder and encouraged better prisoner treatment (Wines 147). “A Visit to the Philadelphia Prison” talks about how the movement supporters, such men as Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush, were inspired by the Quaker views instilled in the area. Philadelphians of all levels joined and pushed for better treatment of prisoners in prosecution, within the prison, and in their punishment. Grouping together, the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons was formed (Turnball 6-10). The Society worked through the legislature to get the laws changed for better prisoner protection and treatment; they passed in 1790 (G.W.S. 2).
Walnut Street Overhaul
After the formation of the Society and law reforms, Walnut Street went through an overhaul to follow through on the new views of prisoner treatment. The ideas of isolation, discipline, and reflection became paramount in establishing a new prison environment in Pennsylvania (Quinn 36). “Origin and Outline” tells of several areas of improvement within the prison. Prisoners were separated based off the severity of the crime they committed along with sex and age. Additionally, solitary cells were installed to be used as punishment for certain prisoners based off the sentence of the court as well as for holding prisoners who would not follow prison rules (Beaumont 2). The treatment within Walnut Street is discussed in “Punishment and Reformation.” The cells built were “six feet in width, eight feet in length, and nine feet in height.” For the non-solitary prisoners, hard labor within the prison was often given as part of their punishment (Wines 146-147). This setup and system quickly became known throughout the colonies for its level of effectiveness on prisoner reformation (G.W.S. 2). Walnut Street’s unique prisoner handling relied heavily on self-penitence for the prisoner’s crime; the term “penitentiary” for prisoner rehabilitation became synonymous with its setup because of this fact.
Collapse of the Prison
The progression of time ended up being Walnut Street’s downfall. “A View and Description of Eastern State” says that within a few years of its inception, a large influx of prisoners overwhelmed the classification system and solitary cells within Walnut Street Penitentiary. This overflow caused petitioning to the Legislature for new prison facilities within the state of Pennsylvania (G.W.S. 2). “Origin and Outline” tells how the overcrowding began causing problems similar to when it had initially opened; the same problems as the prisons that had come before it, the interaction of different classes of prisoners. A side effect of the solitary cells started to become apparent with Walnut Street. Prisoners confined without work suffered mental issues, some to the point of committing suicide (Beaumont 2-3). Additionally, the solitary confinement was used at high cost to the government and the mental breakdowns caused by it were not viewed as an equal trade-off (Quinn 36). The ever increasing problems within Walnut Street brought about the construction of new prisons better equipped for large groups of prisoners. These prisons made Walnut Street obsolete and outdated.
Penal System after Walnut Street
Initial Impact
Initially, prisons developed after Walnut Street did not effectively learn from it. Pittsburgh Prison’s holding of all inmates in complete isolation is described by Beaumont. Prisoners were kept alone all the time without outside contact except occasionally from prison officials. During their stint in isolation, they were given no work to keep them busy. Most of them went mad or went into depression due to the extreme circumstances (5). A similar experiment was attempted at Auburn in New York in 1821. The results were said to be “in the direction of insanity and impaired health” where several men died and the prison closed within 2 years of its opening (Wines 156). These extremes of solitary confinement proved to be too much for anyone to take and were not repeated.
Walnut Street Successes
The advances of Walnut Street Prison became apparent in the penal system and inmate treatment. Two generations of prisons after Walnut Street provided better setups for the inmates’ treatment and rehabilitation. The idea of prisoners needing to be brought back into society eventually created several advanced systems based off Walnut Street’s penitentiary setup. As Beaumont says, the success can be seen in two areas of penal and prison setup. The “reform of barbarous laws, that the penalties of death, mutilation, and flogging, were successively abolished.” This helped initiated a new form of imprisonment for convicts coming from a large variety of crimes. The separation by classes of criminals was the other instrumental advancement in Walnut Street’s treatment of convicts (1-3). Separation by criminal class, sex, and age kept mixing of various trades to a minimum and helped reduce the negative influence of the prison environment on prisoners.
Prisons Influenced by Walnut Street
Eastern State Penitentiary (known as Cherry Hill Prison at the time) developed further the idea of effective prisoner isolation and penitence. G.W.S talks about how the penitentiary utilized only solitary confinement as the holding style for prisoners. Additionally, they would learn the value of work by doing small labor tasks within their cells. The inmates would be taught trades and religion by qualified personnel while incarcerated. Outdoor time was permitted for the prisoners through little yards attached to their cells (6-7). Ensuring humane treatment and reforming convicts while engaging in solitary confinement was the belief behind Eastern State. The isolation of prisoners for achieving the previously mentioned goals developed into what has become known as the Pennsylvania System (Quinn 38).
Auburn Prison in New York transformed itself to a new form of penitentiary based off the Walnut Street model and what it learned from its failed past. “Origin and Outline” says how the prisoners were once again separated based off their crime classification. Learning from their mistakes, the prison converted to inmates doing day labor while being confined to their cells at night. The success of Auburn led New York to start erecting several other prisons based off it such as Sing-Sing; one prison was even built specifically for juvenile offenders (Beaumont 5-7). The alternating of work and confinement of prisoners along with prisoner silence enforced by physical punishments became known as the New York System (Quinn 39).
Walnut Street Legacy
Walnut Street’s impact on prisoner treatment can be seen even today. The system in place today takes heavily from the New York System; minus the physical punishments associated with it but with allowing the prisoners to talk. The idea of prisoner rehabilitation based off Quaker teachings was tested within the American colonies at Walnut Street. Up until its inception, convicts and potential criminals lived with only the fear of punishment, not with the potential for redemption. Prisoners today are still confined to cells but on a limited basis. Their time is spent seeking betterment of oneself through various activities offered in prisons today. Ultimately, it is the hope of the prison system thanks to Walnut Street that convicts can one day rejoin society as productive members.
Works Cited
Primary Sources
Turnbull, Robert J. (Robert James). A visit to the Philadelphia prison ... containing also an account of the gradual reformation, and present improved state, of the penal laws of Pennsylvania: with observations on the impolicy and injustice of capital punishments. In a letter to a friend. Philadelphia [etc.] J. Phillips & Son, 1797. The Making of the Modern World. Gale 2009. Gale, Cengage Learning. Drexel University Libraries. February 2009 http://galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy.library.drexel.edu/servlet/MOME?af=RN&ae=U3603672031&srchtp=a&ste=14
Secondary Sources Beaumont, Gustave de. On the penitentiary system in the United States and its application in France : with an appendix on penal colonies, and also, statistical notes / by G. de Beaumont and A. de Tocqueville; translated from the French, with an introduction, notes and additions by Francis Lieber. Philadelphia, 1833. The Making of Modern Law. Gale. 2009. Gale, Cengage Learning. January 2009 http://galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy.library.drexel.edu/servlet/MOML?af=RN&ae=F3702987089&srchtp=a&ste=14
References
Johnston, Norman. "Prison Reform in Pennsylvania." The Pennsylvania Prison Society - History. The
Pennsylvania Prison Society. Jan. 2009 http://www.prisonsociety.org/about/history.shtml
Quinn, James F. Corrections a Concise Introduction. Prospect Heights, Ill: Waveland P, 1999.
Rafter, Nicole Hahn, and Debra L. Stanley. Prisons in America A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara:
ABC-Clio Inc, 1999.
Walnut Street Prison as a Revolution for Prisoner Rehabilitation
Introduction
Located at Walnut Street behind Independence Hall, Walnut Street Prison was constructed in 1773. Initially built like other prisons of the day, it became a symbol for the reform movement emanating around the colonies that initiated after the Revolutionary War. The desire for prison reform was especially strong in Pennsylvania where Quaker beliefs began to alter the perception of prisoner treatment. Walnut Street became a symbol for this reform movement based off Quaker values that declared humans were innately good and given the right environment could reform themselves to be law-abiding citizens.
Prisoner Treatment before Walnut Street
Prisons were initially setup only as holding cells. “Prison Reform in Pennsylvania” says how those in prisons were there to wait for their trial or punishment as well as for being debtors or a trial witness. The prisons were often organized into several large rooms with a variety of prisoner types confined to each room. A collection of “men and women, young and old, black and white” people all crowded together was not an unusual circumstance. The exception for this was the most heinous criminals who were often confined in separate locations. These systems often led to contamination of the prisoners grouped together; contamination could be anything from prisoner abuse of one another; teaching each other methods of crime; or woman fraternizing with men (Johnston). Contamination among prisoners accounted for part of the inability of inmates to reform while in jail.
In addition to inadequate prisoner arrangements, inmates’ enduring large amounts of physical pain was a regular problem. “Punishment and Reformation” talks about how pain was incorporated into the penal system. Eccentric tests of guilt or innocence where prisoners were flogged or mutilated were still present in the judicial system (71-77). Physical pain was also a practiced form of interrogation. These intimidation methods varied only slightly from the tests of innocence or guilt. The accused would be put through these torturous activities to solicit a confession or other information before a trial (Wines 88). Lastly, physical pain was used against those found guilty. Punishments in this era included branding, hangings, public humiliation, and banishment; flogging and mutilations were also acceptable forms of punishment for those convicted (Rafter).
Development of Walnut Street
Initial Setup
The overcrowding of previously setup prisons was the initial reason for the construction of Walnut Street Prison. “Prison Reform” discusses how its design was put together by the famous architect Robert Smith into the shape of a “U”. The prison was initially setup to accommodate a few dozen prisoners since older prisons in the area had become full. Its inside cell design matched the setup of older prisons where inmates were grouped together in large rooms (Johnston).
Reform Movement
The reform movement after the Revolutionary War saw to change how prisoners were treated. “Punishment and Reformation” discusses the reform movement. It initiated itself off a pre-Revolutionary group called Philadelphia Society for Relieving Distressed Prisoners which had been inspired by William Penn. Penn’s criminal code, heavily influenced by his Quaker beliefs, reduced capital crimes to only willful murder and encouraged better prisoner treatment (Wines 147). “A Visit to the Philadelphia Prison” talks about how the movement supporters, such men as Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush, were inspired by the Quaker views instilled in the area. Philadelphians of all levels joined and pushed for better treatment of prisoners in prosecution, within the prison, and in their punishment. Grouping together, the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons was formed (Turnball 6-10). The Society worked through the legislature to get the laws changed for better prisoner protection and treatment; they passed in 1790 (G.W.S. 2).
Walnut Street Overhaul
After the formation of the Society and law reforms, Walnut Street went through an overhaul to follow through on the new views of prisoner treatment. The ideas of isolation, discipline, and reflection became paramount in establishing a new prison environment in Pennsylvania (Quinn 36). “Origin and Outline” tells of several areas of improvement within the prison. Prisoners were separated based off the severity of the crime they committed along with sex and age. Additionally, solitary cells were installed to be used as punishment for certain prisoners based off the sentence of the court as well as for holding prisoners who would not follow prison rules (Beaumont 2). The treatment within Walnut Street is discussed in “Punishment and Reformation.” The cells built were “six feet in width, eight feet in length, and nine feet in height.” For the non-solitary prisoners, hard labor within the prison was often given as part of their punishment (Wines 146-147). This setup and system quickly became known throughout the colonies for its level of effectiveness on prisoner reformation (G.W.S. 2). Walnut Street’s unique prisoner handling relied heavily on self-penitence for the prisoner’s crime; the term “penitentiary” for prisoner rehabilitation became synonymous with its setup because of this fact.
Collapse of the Prison
The progression of time ended up being Walnut Street’s downfall. “A View and Description of Eastern State” says that within a few years of its inception, a large influx of prisoners overwhelmed the classification system and solitary cells within Walnut Street Penitentiary. This overflow caused petitioning to the Legislature for new prison facilities within the state of Pennsylvania (G.W.S. 2). “Origin and Outline” tells how the overcrowding began causing problems similar to when it had initially opened; the same problems as the prisons that had come before it, the interaction of different classes of prisoners. A side effect of the solitary cells started to become apparent with Walnut Street. Prisoners confined without work suffered mental issues, some to the point of committing suicide (Beaumont 2-3). Additionally, the solitary confinement was used at high cost to the government and the mental breakdowns caused by it were not viewed as an equal trade-off (Quinn 36). The ever increasing problems within Walnut Street brought about the construction of new prisons better equipped for large groups of prisoners. These prisons made Walnut Street obsolete and outdated.
Penal System after Walnut Street
Initial Impact
Initially, prisons developed after Walnut Street did not effectively learn from it. Pittsburgh Prison’s holding of all inmates in complete isolation is described by Beaumont. Prisoners were kept alone all the time without outside contact except occasionally from prison officials. During their stint in isolation, they were given no work to keep them busy. Most of them went mad or went into depression due to the extreme circumstances (5). A similar experiment was attempted at Auburn in New York in 1821. The results were said to be “in the direction of insanity and impaired health” where several men died and the prison closed within 2 years of its opening (Wines 156). These extremes of solitary confinement proved to be too much for anyone to take and were not repeated.
Walnut Street Successes
The advances of Walnut Street Prison became apparent in the penal system and inmate treatment. Two generations of prisons after Walnut Street provided better setups for the inmates’ treatment and rehabilitation. The idea of prisoners needing to be brought back into society eventually created several advanced systems based off Walnut Street’s penitentiary setup. As Beaumont says, the success can be seen in two areas of penal and prison setup. The “reform of barbarous laws, that the penalties of death, mutilation, and flogging, were successively abolished.” This helped initiated a new form of imprisonment for convicts coming from a large variety of crimes. The separation by classes of criminals was the other instrumental advancement in Walnut Street’s treatment of convicts (1-3). Separation by criminal class, sex, and age kept mixing of various trades to a minimum and helped reduce the negative influence of the prison environment on prisoners.
Prisons Influenced by Walnut Street
Eastern State Penitentiary (known as Cherry Hill Prison at the time) developed further the idea of effective prisoner isolation and penitence. G.W.S talks about how the penitentiary utilized only solitary confinement as the holding style for prisoners. Additionally, they would learn the value of work by doing small labor tasks within their cells. The inmates would be taught trades and religion by qualified personnel while incarcerated. Outdoor time was permitted for the prisoners through little yards attached to their cells (6-7). Ensuring humane treatment and reforming convicts while engaging in solitary confinement was the belief behind Eastern State. The isolation of prisoners for achieving the previously mentioned goals developed into what has become known as the Pennsylvania System (Quinn 38).
Auburn Prison in New York transformed itself to a new form of penitentiary based off the Walnut Street model and what it learned from its failed past. “Origin and Outline” says how the prisoners were once again separated based off their crime classification. Learning from their mistakes, the prison converted to inmates doing day labor while being confined to their cells at night. The success of Auburn led New York to start erecting several other prisons based off it such as Sing-Sing; one prison was even built specifically for juvenile offenders (Beaumont 5-7). The alternating of work and confinement of prisoners along with prisoner silence enforced by physical punishments became known as the New York System (Quinn 39).
Walnut Street Legacy
Walnut Street’s impact on prisoner treatment can be seen even today. The system in place today takes heavily from the New York System; minus the physical punishments associated with it but with allowing the prisoners to talk. The idea of prisoner rehabilitation based off Quaker teachings was tested within the American colonies at Walnut Street. Up until its inception, convicts and potential criminals lived with only the fear of punishment, not with the potential for redemption. Prisoners today are still confined to cells but on a limited basis. Their time is spent seeking betterment of oneself through various activities offered in prisons today. Ultimately, it is the hope of the prison system thanks to Walnut Street that convicts can one day rejoin society as productive members.
Works Cited
Primary Sources
Turnbull, Robert J. (Robert James). A visit to the Philadelphia prison ... containing also an account of the
gradual reformation, and present improved state, of the penal laws of Pennsylvania: with observations on the impolicy and injustice of capital punishments. In a letter to a friend. Philadelphia [etc.] J. Phillips & Son, 1797. The Making of the Modern World. Gale 2009. Gale, Cengage Learning. Drexel University Libraries. February 2009 http://galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy.library.drexel.edu/servlet/MOME?af=RN&ae=U3603672031&srchtp=a&ste=14
Secondary Sources
Beaumont, Gustave de. On the penitentiary system in the United States and its application in France :
with an appendix on penal colonies, and also, statistical notes / by G. de Beaumont and A. de Tocqueville; translated from the French, with an introduction, notes and additions by Francis Lieber. Philadelphia, 1833. The Making of Modern Law. Gale. 2009. Gale, Cengage Learning. January 2009 http://galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy.library.drexel.edu/servlet/MOML?af=RN&ae=F3702987089&srchtp=a&ste=14
G. W. S. A View and description of the Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1830. The
Making of the Modern World. Gale 2009. Gale, Cengage Learning. Drexel University Libraries. January 2009 http://galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy.library.drexel.edu/servlet/MOME?af=RN&ae=U3604777049&srchtp=a&ste=14
Wines, Frederick Howard. Punishment and reformation : a study of the penitentiary system. New ed.,
rev. and enl. / by Winthrop D. Lane. New York, c1919. The Making of Modern Law. Gale. 2009. Gale, Cengage Learning. February 2009 http://galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/servlet/MOML?af=RN&ae=F3752763794&srchtp=a&ste=14
References
Johnston, Norman. "Prison Reform in Pennsylvania." The Pennsylvania Prison Society - History. The
Pennsylvania Prison Society. Jan. 2009 http://www.prisonsociety.org/about/history.shtml
Quinn, James F. Corrections a Concise Introduction. Prospect Heights, Ill: Waveland P, 1999.
Rafter, Nicole Hahn, and Debra L. Stanley. Prisons in America A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara:
ABC-Clio Inc, 1999.